Mangaluru: Urban Development Minister, VinayKumarSorake inaugurated the newly built Jeppu Market, here on October 19.

After inaugurating the market, VinayKumarSorake said that the dry and fresh fish market in Jeppu has been constructed at a cost of Rs 92.5 lakh under the Mangalore City Corporation and the National Fisheries Development Corporation. The complex will house vendors selling dry fish and fresh fish in the ground floor and vegetable market in the first floor.

He further said that the new fish market is well-equipped to meet the requirements of fisher women. Fish markets will be developed so that the fisherwomen and customers alike can enjoy the best facilities.

“The construction of the new fish market began in 2011 and today we have completed the work and opened it for the public. We will develop all the markets under Mangaluru City Corporation limits. The markets in Kadri, Kankanady, Urva, Urva store and Central Market will be upgraded under the PPP model and the work will be started soon. In Suratkal, the market construction work has started under the PPP model and we are planning to build markets in various places so that people in the city can be benefited,” he added.

MLA J R Lobo speaking on the occasion thanked the National Fisheries Development Corporation and the Mangaluru City Corporation for the successful completion of the Jeppu fish market. “We have taken all the measures to upgrade the markets in various places. The Kankanady, Kadri and central markets will be upgraded under MCC funds and, Urva and Urva store markets will be done under Urban Development funds.”

He also said that the Alape and Kaikamba–Bikkarnakatte market will also be upgraded. “We are planning to upgrade the market in Kaikamba and retain the Saturday market (ShanivaradaSanthe) because there is only one such market in the city where this tradition is retained. All measures have been taken to upgrade the Kaikamba market. The Coastal Development Authority has come forward to upgrade the market; we will also start a similar market in Alape.”

He further said that the “ShanivaradaSanthe” (Saturday Market) in Kaikamba has to be retained. “MCC in its own capacity has been chosen for Smart city. With the leadership of VinayKumarRai and MCC, we will strive hard to develop the city. With the help of the Urban Development Minister, district minister in-charge and the Mangaluru City Corporation, we will try to develop all the markets and within, two years of time we will change the picture of Mangaluru,” he assured.

Later, Sorake, Lobo and other officials went around the city to inspect and inaugurate many projects. After inspecting the Town Hall, Lobo said that the work would be completed as soon as possible and the MCC would try to inaugurate the Town Hall on Children Day’s, November 14. “Our developing city will then have a town hall matching its progress and will be the best town hall in the entire state,” he added.